St. Anthony Messenger Press received the following communication
from our provincial communications office, St. John the Baptist Province:

Friday, October 03, 1997, 3:23 A.M.

The disaster which has struck the regions of Umbria and the Marches
has been a terrible shock for us. Our first thoughts go to our two Franciscan
brothers and to the two experts from the Umbrian Arts Inspectorate who
were killed, and we express our deepest sympathy to their relatives. These
four men died close to Saint Francis, while they were caring for his basilica;
we trust that the saint of Assisi will lead them in peace to the blessed
vision of God.

We offer our sympathy also for all the other victims of the earthquake,
and we wish to express our solidarity with those many people who have been
left homeless or have suffered grave losses in its wake.

The damage sustained by the Franciscan shrines of Assisi—the Sacro Convento,
Saint Mary of the Angels, San Damiano, Santa Chiara, and above all the
upper basilica of Saint Francis—are like so many wounds in our hearts.
These are the hallowed places where we friars remember the life and spiritual
journey of our Father Francis and of Saint Clare; the places where the
most important gatherings and celebrations of our Franciscan families take
place; the places, too, to which so many pilgrims come from all over the
world to be mpoved by the ever-present fascination of Francis; the places
chosen by the Pope for universal prayer for Peace in the world.

We wish to express our gratitude to the civil authorities at national,
regional and local level and to those charged with the protection of the
cultural and artistic heritage for their prompt intervention.

Our deepest thanks goes also to the countless individuals and institutions
which have sent us messages of sympathy and solidarity. The Feast of Saint
Francis draws near. As an expression of mourning and a mark of respect
for the pain and sorrow of so many people, and also because the churches
in which the celebrations usually take place are damaged, we have decided
to simplify the observances of October 4th this year. There will be a single
celebration of the Eucharist in the piazza in front of the Basilica of
Saint Mary of the Angels on Saturday October 4th at 10.30 a.m. The Italian
Region of Liguria, to which it falls by turn this year to offer the oil
for the lamp which burns before the tomb of Saint Francis, will participate
in this simple celebration in the manner it considers most appropriate.

In spite of this tragedy which has struck the places sacred to the memory
of Saint Francis, we are not discouraged in our hope for a future of solidarity
in which the victims of the earthquake will be helped effectively and speedily,
and in which the Franciscan shrines will become once again the goal of
many pilgrims, especially in view of the Great Jubilee of the year 2000.

Br Agostino Gardin, Minister General of the Friars Minor Conventual

Br Giacomo Bini, Minister General of the Friars Minor

Br John Corriveau, Minister General of the Friars Minor Capuchin

Br Bonaventura Midili, Minister General of the Third Order Regular
of Saint Francis